DESEO: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A DESIGNER?

ELBIN: EVER SINCE I WAS A CHILD, I HAD A NATURAL INCLINATION TO DRAWING AND EXPRESSING MYSELF THROUGH ART. WHEN THE TIME CAME TO CHOOSE A CAREER, I WASN’T SURE WHAT I WANTED, I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THAT INDUSTRIAL DESIGN WAS A THING, BUT I FELT THAT I NEEDED TO BE CREATIVE AND NOT WORK IN A TRADITIONAL 9-5 OFFICE JOB. ULTIMATELY, MY MOM EXHORTED ME TO CHOOSE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, AND I DID. BEST DECISION I COULD’VE MADE. SO, IN CONCLUSION, WHAT INSPIRED ME TO BE A DESIGNER WAS MY NATURAL NECESSITY TO BE CREATIVE AND MY FAMILY’S SUPPORT.

 

HOW DOES YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND INFLUENCE YOUR DESIGNS?

MY FIRST COLLECTION WAS DESIGNED WITH THE DOMINICAN LIFESTYLE AND THE ELEGANCE OF DOMINICAN PEOPLE AS INSPIRATION.

ALSO, AS A LATINO, I FEEL THE NEED TO TELL MY STORY AND OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME, HOW WE PREVAILED AFTER MANY ADVERSITIES THROUGHOUT HISTORY. I WANT MY JEWELRY TO HAVE A PIECE OF MY CULTURE, EVEN IF IT’S JUST CONCEPTUAL.

 

HOW DO YOU USUALLY BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR A NEW PIECE?

I ALWAYS BEGIN BY SETTING REQUIREMENTS. I ASK MYSELF WHERE AND WHEN THE PIECE WILL BE USED AND WHAT MESSAGE I WANT TO SEND.

 

WHAT MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES DO YOU USE IN YOUR WORK?

FOR DESIGNING, I USE NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE CAD AND RESIN 3D PRINTING. FOR PRODUCTION, MORE TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES ARE APPLIED: LOST WAX CASTING, FILING AND HAND POLISHING.

AS FOR MATERIALS, I LOVE WORKING WITH STERLING SILVER FOR ITS BEAUTY AND VERSATILITY.

 

THE TIMELESS WATCH DESIGN PROCESS.

 

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED IN BUILDING YOUR BRAND?

THE BIGGEST LESSON IS DEFINITELY THAT EVERY ENTREPRENEUR, INCLUDING MYSELF, NEEDS A GOOD TEAM AND PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THEM.

 

HOW DO YOU DECIDE ON THE COLOR PALETTE OR MATERIALS FOR A NEW COLLECTION?

AFTER FINALIZING A DRAWING, I JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT COLOR WOULD LOOK BEST FOR THAT PRODUCT IN PARTICULAR, AND OBVIOUSLY, IF IT MATCHES MY BRAND AESTHETIC. MATERIALS DEPEND ON QUALITIES AND AVAILABILITY.

I WANT ALL MY PIECES TO BE THE HIGHEST QUALITY POSSIBLE AND FOR THAT, I ALMOST ALWAYS CHOOSE STERLING SILVER OR 18K GOLD.

 

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE FEEL OR EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY WEAR YOUR JEWELRY?

I HOPE PEOPLE FEEL EMPOWERED AND ELEGANT WHEN THEY WEAR MY JEWELRY. I ALSO WANT THEM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THOSE MOMENTS THAT THEY WILL REMEMBER FOREVER.

 

WHICH ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, OR MOVEMENTS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WORK THE MOST?

I AM VERY INFLUENCED BY MUSICAL ARTISTS FROM THE PRESENT LIKE ROSALÍA, LADY GAGA AND BAD GYAL BECAUSE OF THEIR VERSATILITY, UNIQUE STYLE AND THE WAY THEY EXPRESS THEIR FREEDOM AND CREATIVITY.

AS FOR AESTHETICS, I AM INCLINED TO A MORE TRADITIONAL, ELEGANT STYLE. DESIGNERS SUCH AS OSCAR DE LA RENTA, FERNANDO GARCIA AND JENNY POLANCO ARE BIG INSPIRATIONS FOR ME.

 

WHAT OTHER ART FORMS, BESIDES JEWELRY, INSPIRE YOUR WORK? (E.G., PAINTING, SCULPTURE, FASHION)

OTHER ART FORMS THAT INSPIRE MY WORK ARE FASHION, ARCHITECTURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY. I DON’T ONLY DESIGN JEWELS, I ALSO LOVE TO DESIGN SPACES AND EXPERIENCES.

 

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, BOTH PERSONALLY AND FOR YOUR BRAND?

PERSONALLY, I WANT TO KEEP LEARNING ABOUT JEWELRY DESIGN, HOPEFULLY BY GETTING A MASTERS DEGREE. I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO TRAVEL AND SHOWCASE MY WORK AROUND THE WORLD.

 

WHAT COLLABORATIONS OR PROJECTS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE? ( IF YOU HAVE ANY IF NOT WHO WOULD YOU LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH)

I AM CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING MY STYLE AND GROWING MY BRAND.

 

IF YOU COULD DESIGN A PIECE OF JEWELRY FOR ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I WOULD LOVE TO DESIGN A SPECIAL, PRIVATE COLLECTION FOR MY MOTHER, FATHER AND SISTERS, THAT COULD LATER BE PASSED DOWN TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

 

INTERVIEW BY ARIANNA FLASHNER FROM DESEO.